The news around the Nebraska football program this week has been a rollercoaster. From key pieces moving on, to recruits putting pen to paper, there has been a plethora of ups and downs. The way it feels to be taking in all of the news is reminiscent of how my dog releases his pent-up energy— A.K.A. the zoomies. No, I’m not full sprinting through the house, slipping and sliding on the composite flooring, but my mind feels similar.
We’ll start with the negatives to get them out of the way.
Alongside former Defensive Coordinator Tony White, Defensive Line Coach Terrance Knighton has moved on to Florida State. This was rumored to be the case when White announced his decision to leave, but it is now confirmed. Knighton did a terrific job in his time with the Huskers, his unit proving to be the most consistent on the team. The players gravitated toward his presence, and it’ll be a heck of a challenge to fill his void.
Perhaps no other Husker gravitated more to Knighton than did Edge Rusher James Williams. After a breakout season, Williams has entered his name in the transfer portal.
It’s going to start sounding like a broken record, but Williams’ decision to move on is not necessarily surprising, just unfortunate. It was well known that Williams had a strong connection with Knighton, saying his coach was like a father to him. His decision makes sense in that regard. Husker nation can only wish the best to Williams and his future moving forward.
One move that seemingly nobody around the Nebraska program saw coming was Running Back Emmet Johnson also entering his name into the portal. Johnson had a slow start to the season with limited touches, but by the end of the year, especially after the arrival of Dana Holgorsen, he came on in a big way. Johnson finished the year leading the Huskers in all-purpose yards, and the excitement he created with his performance against Wisconsin ended up being short-lived. Nebraska will now need to hit the portal in search for a replacement.
On to the positives.
Early National signing day came on Wednesday, and the Huskers signed some big names.
4-Star Quarterback TJ Lateef officially signed on with Nebraska. Lateef originally committed back in May, choosing the Huskers over the likes of Arizona, Colorado, and UCLA. Making the decision set in stone is a huge get after Nebraska Freshman Quarterback Daniel Kaelin announced he would be entering his name in the portal. Lateef will almost certainly be next in line to Dylan Raiola in 2025, but his talent should push Raiola, and vice versa. The Huskers should feel confident about the current Quarterback room.
In another massive signing, Nebraska flipped Wide Receiver Cortez Millz. Millz was originally committed to Oklahoma with other offers from top schools like LSU and Clemson. The Florida standout will join up with another Florida native, Jacorey Barney Jr., in the Nebraska receiving room.
Speaking of the receiving room, Wide Receivers Coach Garret McGuire is out, and Daikiel Shorts is in. The hire of Shorts came directly at the request of Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Shorts was a former player of Holgorsen and brings Power Four experience, most recently leading the receiving room at Kentucky. Matt Rhule called Shorts “one of the best recruiters in the country”, and in a time of college football where recruiting couldn’t be more overstated, that’s a vital attribute to carry with your name.
It’s been a whirlwind of a week with the constant influx of news, but it’s the new normal, and it’s not stopping now. Strap on your seatbelts, the ride, while fun at times, is going to be bumpy.
